Polarisation and compression of 3He for Magnetic Resonance Imaging purposes

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is often used in medical science as a diagnostic tool for the human body. Conventional MRI uses the NMR signal from the protons of water molecules in tissue to image the interior of the patient's body. However, for certain areas such as the lungs and airways, the usage of a highly polarised gas yields better results. We are currently constructing an apparatus that uses polarised 3He gas to produce detailed images of those signal-deficient moyeties. We also plan to study possible uptake of polarised 3He gas by the circulatory system to image other organs